The Best Budget Adventure Travel Photography Gear

So you’re planning that trip, getting ready to head off around the world, but trust me when I say that you will want to keep a detailed record of your adventures to give you some epic memories to look back on. I am photography obsessed and have done HEAPS of research into some of the best budget kit you can buy. There are loads of options out there, but i’m going to specifically talk about what I use and can recommend from experience. I’ve done little pros and cons lists for the things that I own. Hope you find it useful and, as always, please do ask if you have any questions!

First things first…

Firstly, you have to think about your budget and what you really NEED. If you already have a camera then perhaps you can just freshen it up with some lenses? (I did this for a few years whilst I improved my skills) Also have a think about what you want to capture… are you capturing wildlife or action? Do you want to take creative images or film? Will you be vlogging?

Once you have thought about your needs, then you can start looking at brands, models and specifications. Below I will discuss what I recommend for adventure travel photography on a budget and what is working for me at the moment. This gear is all high-spec but low budget so great value for money! Some of the bits I have are a little older and only available second-hand, so I have recommended an alternative in some cases!

 Here’s a quick overview:

Tech
DSLR Camera: Canon EOS M50
The Microphone: Rode VideoMicro
The Drone: DJI Mavic Mini Combo
The Action Camera: GoPro HERO7 Black
The Phone: Apple iPhone 11

Accessories
The Tripod:  AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod
The Gimbal: DJI Osmo Mobile 3

My DSLR Camera: Canon EOS M50

This camera seems to be a longstanding recommendation internet-wide, especially for bloggers. If the pros like Casey Neistat have used it, then it must be good. I have recently invested in one myself, it’s not too expensive for a mirrorless DSLR and it does include the 4K (although a shame its seriously cropped). If you are on a bit of a budget and want something to get you going that still has a very high spec, then this is a great option. Additionally, if you already have some canon lenses, you can get a Canon EF-M Mount Adapter for around £100 which means you can use both the EF-M lenses as well as EF-S.

The Microphone: Rode VideoMicro

I have recently purchased the Rode Video Micro. This microphone was recommended at a video conference I attended and is the perfect travel-sized addition to your kit. It has great quality sound capture and also comes with a dead cat (the wind protection thing … not an actual dead cat.

The Drone: DJI Mavic Mini Combo

The DJI Mavic Mini is amazing. I love this little drone, it shoots 2.7K with a 3-axis gimbal and flies like a dream. If you are looking for a drone on a budget, with excellent video quality and professional capabilities, this is one of the best you can get. It is smaller and lightweight than some of its bigger competitors -perfect for travel – and if you get the Fly More combo it includes loads of useful extras (batteries, spare propellors etc).

The Action Cam: Go Pro Hero 4 Silver – Go for the GoPro HERO7 Black

I currently have the Go Pro Hero 4 Silver Edition and it’s great for adventure travel photography, however I really need an upgrade as this model is now fairly old! I’d look at getting the Hero 7 if you are on a budget or, if you can stretch, the new Hero 9 or Max. I think the Hero 4 is only available second hand now, so check out the ones mentioned above and let me know what you think. Personally, I would recommend the 7, its pricing is fair, it has a touch screen, hyper smooth video stabilisation, shoots in 4k and has hands-free audio command capability. Yep, you can tell it what to do.

The Phone: Apple iPhone 11

Sooo, I’m not one to constantly follow the latest iPhone upgrades (I mean damn, how do you even keep up, we will be on the iPhone90XE by Christmas). However, I did recently update my sad little iPhone 8 (smashed on both sides, thank you gravity) for a shiny new iPhone 11. My key criteria when looking for a new phone is the camera (hence it being on this list) and the camera on the iPhone 11 is epic. I love the portrait features and the 0.5X zoom mode (which resembles that of a GoPro) and is excellent for capturing wide-angles. The phone itself is pretty cool and is a nice upgrade from an 8. I found the cheapest way for me to do it was to go straight to Apple (rather than a contract… always trying to budget!) and I went for the pay monthly option for the phone and then got a cheap sim (easier for when you want to travel too as you can just cancel the sim whenever and it means the phone is already unlocked!)

The Tripod: AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod

I purchased this handy little tripod from Amazon. It was really cheap and is exactly what I needed. It comes with a little bag so it’s easy to transport and is taller than me (not hard) meaning it has the capability to take good eye-level shots. It is sturdy enough for the Canon M50 and would definitely be able to handle some of the chunkier lenses on there too. For the price, you can’t beat it.

The Gimbal: DJI Osmo Mobile – Go for the DJI Osmo Mobile 3

Have you ever seen that silky-smooth footage on youtube? That footage that looks impossibly sleek? Almost as though someone must be floating on a cloud to enable them to film so steadily? That’s what a gimbal is for. The king of steady footage. There are a few options available, and again, I need to upgrade, BUT if you are on a tight budget i’m sure you can find the Osmo Mobile second hand very cheap. Alternatively, if you want to go for a new gimbal, I’d opt for the Osmo Mobile 3. It’s cheaper than the newest edition but still looks like it does a great job. It’s worth the investment as it really does take your filming to the next level. Nowadays camera shake just won’t cut it, so investing in one of these is crucial.